Alloy and method of producing it.



FREDERICK M. BECKET, OF

NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ELEOTRO METALLURGICAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

ALLOY AND METHOD OF PRODUCING IT- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Application filed March 20, 1907- Serial No. 363.481.

To (all 1117110711, it may concern:

Be itknown that I, FREDERICK M. BECKET, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alloy and Methods of Producing It, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the roducti on of an alloy particularly ada ted or the treatment of iron or steel, an to the method by which it is produced. The alloy contains titanium and calcium, preferably but not necessarily associated with aluminium and. silicon, carbon being usually present in greater or less proportion in accordance with the method of manufacture employed. Iron is also usually present as a component of the alloy, derived from the ores employed in its manufacture. I

I may produce an alloy containing titanium and calcium by reduction by carbon in an electric-furnace of a charge containing oxids or oxygen compounds of titanium' and calcium, usually with the addition of silica in proportion depending upon the percentage of silicon desired. The reduction of the mixed oXids yields a product of metallic character instead of the carbid which would result from the reduction of either oxid alone. In addition to its value as an ingredient of the alloy for use in the treatment of iron or steel, silicon acts to a marked degree to diminish the percentage of carbon in the product; this is of advantage for the reason that a product low in carbon can be added, if desired, in relatively large proportions to iron or steel without unduly increasing the pro portion of carbon in the resulting metal.

When an alloy containing aluminium in addition to titanium and calcium is desired, it is most conveniently produced by reduc tion in an electric furnace having an electrode or electrodes of carbon, of a charge containing oxids of titanium and calcium, or of titanium, calcium and silicon, by means of metallic aluminium used in proportion to yield an aluminum-bearing alloy or a mixture of the oxids of titanium, calcium and aluminium, or of titanium, calcium, aluminium and silicon, may be reduced by carbon. Y

In any case the operation is preferably rendered continuous in character by adding fresh portions of the charge from time to time, and tapping the molten alloy as desired.

Examples of the composition of alloys I have produced for the purpose indicated are shown by the following analyses:

Titanium. 50. 67 per cent. 26. 24 percent. Calcium 8. 32 5. 30 Aluminium 22. 7O I. 55 Iron 11.83 50.98 Si]icon 4. 20 y 11. 78 A Carbon 1. 86 3. 69 g i Iii, '1 Total- 99.58 99. 54

It will be understood that the proportions of. the several components of the alloy, or the presence therein of aluminium or silicon, is determined by the composition of the charge smelted. The alloy is varied in composition according to the percentage of one or more of its constituents desired in the finished iron or steel, and also according to the particular class of iron or steel to be treated.

The appearance of the alloy varies in accordance with its composition, mode and scale of production, rate of cooling, etc.; in general it exists'as a light gray or grayish product of metallic appearance but without pronounced luster or distinct crystalline structure, of moderate hardness. Particularly when a considerable proportion of calcium is present it is subject to slow decomposition in water or moist air. As compared with ferrotitanium the alloy possesses a relatively low melting point and is much more readily incorporated with molten iron or steel and distributed therethrough.

The method of treating iron or steel by incorporating therewith the above described ending application alloy is claimed in my co arch 13, 1907.

Serial No. 362,224, filed I claim:

1. An alloy containing titanium and calcium.

2. An alloy containing titanium, calcium and aluminium.

3. An alloy containing titanium, calcium, aluminium, and silicon.

4. An alloy containing titanium, calcium, aluminium, silicon, and carbon.

5. An alloy containing titanium, calcium, aluminium, silicon, carbon, and-iron.

6. The method of producing an alloy containing titanium and calcium, which consists in reducing a charge containing the oxide or oxygen compounds of titanium and calcium.

7. The method of producing an alloy con- ,oxids or oxygen compounds oi. titanium, calt titanium and calcium, which consists in reducing by carbon in an electric furnace a charge'containing the oxide or oxygen compounds of titanium and calcium.

8. The method of producing an alloy containing titanium, calcium and silicon, which consists in reducing a charge containing the cium and s1l1con.

9. The method of producing an alloy containing titanium, calcium and silicon, which consists in reducing by carbon in an electric furnace a charge containing the oxids or oxygen compounds of titanium, calcium and silicon.

10; The continuous method of producing an alloy containing titanium and calcium, which consists in reducing a charge containing the oxidsor oxygen compounds of tita-- nium 'and calcium, ad fresh portions of the charge, and withdrawing the products as desired.

cease? 11. The continuous method of reducing an alloy containing titanium an calcium, which consists in reducing by carbon in an electric furnace a charge containing the oxids or oxygen com ounds of titanium and calcium, adding fi and withdrawing the products as desired.

12. The continuous method of roducing an alloy containing titanium an calcium, which consists in reducing by carbon in an electric furnace a charge containing the oxide or oxygen com ounds of titanium, calcium and silicon, a ding fresh portions of the charge and withdrawing the products as desired.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK M. BEOKET.

Witnesses:

' s. F. Ransom, R. H. WARREN.

esh portions of the charge, 

